2008 Acura Tl Type-s Sedan 4-door 3.5l on 2040-cars

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19% of Acura Integras have been sold with a manual transmission

While you'll need to wait another week to read our review of the upcoming 2024 Acura Integra Type S, there is a nice little nugget of information we can share in the meantime. Between May 2022 and April 2023, Acura reports that it sold 19,643 Integras. According to the figures Acura shared, so grain of salt, that is grossly more than other entry-level luxury sedans: the Audi A3 (8,866), Mercedes-Benz CLA (6,656) and BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe (3,913). Update: Acura confirmed to us since this was originally posted that the A3 numbers also includes S3 and RS 3. The thing that most piqued our interest, however, was Acura saying that 19% of those 19,643 Integras came with the six-speed manual transmission. Now, that's a colossal change from the earliest days of Integra orders when the manual take-rate was hovering around 70%. Clearly, late adopters weren't as eager to row their own. It's also important to note that the manual is exclusively tied to the loaded A-Spec with Technology package, so it's effectively a pricey option.  While 19% — roughly 3,732 units — may not seem like a lot, it's actually not bad these days, and not that far off the entire 2 Series Gran Coupe lineup. That number is also about to go up since the Type S is exclusively available with a six-speed manual.  A few other sales-related Integra tidbits: It has the youngest buyers in the segment, as defined by those cars listed above, with 36% being younger than 35. Also, about 70% of buyers were of the "conquest" variety, meaning they were former Spanish Conquistadors. Wait, what's that? Oh, that makes more sense: So 70% of Integra buyers previously owned a car that wasn't an Acura, although when asked, Acura mentioned that it was possible that the buyers in question owned an Acura at some point in the distant past (you know, like an Integra) and were making a return to the brand.

2014 Acura MDX ad campaign the most expensive in brand's history

Realizing that it must spend more marketing dollars to compete with the more established luxury automakers, Acura is preparing to launch its most expensive ad campaign ever for its redesigned 2014 MDX. At $78 million, according to Advertising Age, the new "Made for Mankind" campaign that kicks off next month is exactly double what Acura spent on the 2013 RDX launch last year. It's also the brand's first cooperation with its new agency, Boston- and Los-Angeles-based Mullen Advertising. Thanks to its bigger budget, we'll be seeing ads for the MDX pop up just about everywhere from television commercials, cinemas and billboards to videos focused on computers and mobile devices.
The first such video is entitled "Human Race," and it enunciates Acura's recent tagline highlight, the synergy between man and machine. More interestingly, the 2014 MDX, which went on sale this month, doesn't make an appearance in the 60-second spot until close to the end. This video is posted below as well as a press release from Acura along with images of various ads we should start soon.

2019 Acura MDX refresh brings some sharp enhancements

The outgoing Acura MDX has nothing to be ashamed of, but the thing about refreshes is that the engineers and product teams always have something to fine tune. Some of it is planned in advance — the cosmetic upgrades and the A-Spec trim were probably always part of the product roadmap. But there are also some tweaks that seem to be a response to customer feedback. Let's take a closer look. Most important, some of the goodies reserved only for the old Sport Hybrid will now be available on all MDXs. Notably, the Active Damper System — a continuously adjustable valve that controls the flow of hydraulic fluid within the damper — is available on non-hybrid MDXs for the first time. The system has several settings, from plush to firm. We found this system worked very well on the Sport Hybrid during our first drive, so it's a useful upgrade that buyers will be able to readily appreciate. Next up is an A-Spec appearance trim, which looks sportier but doesn't offer any additional performance or comfort features, just like the rest of Acura's A-Spec models at this point. For the MDX, wider 20-inch wheels and a combination of gloss black and "dark chrome" trim compliment a revised front fascia and grille. Inside, the seats get a mix of Alcantara and leather with contrasting stitching, there are unique gauges, sport pedals, and a thicker steering wheel. It looks decent enough, particularly inside, and there's enough there to make the trim stand apart from the more pedestrian trims. Oh, and there's an exclusive color: Apex Blue Pearl. A quick aside on prices: The base MDX without SH-AWD runs an MSRP of $45,295, and the A-Spec (only available with SH-AWD) is $55,795. Normal MDXs get a few more color options, although they'll cost extra: Majestic Black Pearl, Performance Red, and Canyon Bronze Metallic. One no-cost color option that's new is Gunmetal Metallic. Inside, there are some additional interior options, like Desert Olive Ash wood trim, contrasting seat stitching, and standard 4-way power lumbar adjustment on the front seats. Advance Package MDXs get wider 20-inch wheels, too. And now on to those tweaks and enhancements that might not have been planned a long time ago in a product meeting far away. The engine stop/start function has been tweaked to be smoother and quicker, thanks to an upgraded brake sensor and some software tweaks.